Well, here's a new chapter that I cooked up. :)

In this chapter, Seto Kaiba is brought in. Since Kaiba is also a vampire, I changed his personality a bit so he's a little like Dracula, but different. (Hope you don't mind.) Here are a few shoutouts to my reviewers:

Your Most Enjoyable Nightmare: Thanks. That means a lot to me.

CapricornKittyKat2012: Cool!

Kitty Kat2009: Thanks. I'll do my best!

And last but never least, Journey Maker: Thanks. Yami and Arella do make a good couple!

Well, on with the story, of course. :)

Previously...

Then Marcus said, "I don't believe you, Yami."

He couldn't believe that the bubbly vivacious woman, who had once stolen his heart, who resided in his soul, would willingly give herself up to evil.

Here Arella took this as her cue. Apparently to her, Marcus didn't believe Yami, so she decided to prove it to him.

Well, here goes, she told herself.

She cleared her throat, and then stepped out so she was behind Marcus.

"Oh, but it's true," a voice said from behind him.

Marcus froze. His entire body ceased to function. That voice…

He could die a thousand deaths, spend eternity in the fiery pits of hell and despair, and yet he would never forget it. It had haunted his dreams, taunted him with forbidden promises and now it rolled over his senses like honey.

As if in slow motion, he turned his body, his eyes resting to the position where the voice had came from, and there she stood in all her beautiful splendor.

Arella Van Helsing!

"Hello, Marcus," she purred.

Don't pretend you're sorry
I know you're not
You know you got the power
To make me weak inside
Girl you leave me breathless
But it's okay ‛cause
You are my survivor
Now hear me say

I can't imagine life
Without your love
Even forever don't seem
Like long enough

‛Cause everytime I breathe
I take you in
And my heart beats again
Baby I can't help it
You keep me
Drowning in your love

Everytime I try to rise above
I'm swept away by love
Baby I can't help it
You keep me
Drowning in your love
~Backstreet Boys, Drowning

Marcus felt the whole of his body tighten and his eyes began a rapid succession of blinks. Oh, wow. She was more beautiful than he remembered – the shimmering dark chocolate of her hair, the emerald color of her eyes (which were now oddly bright), her slim honed body encased all in black and her skin all perfect and pale.

Everything seemed to fade away, leaving nothing but him and her, but then she opened her mouth to speak, and the moment was broken.

"I see you've met my sire, Marcus," she whispered as Yami moved beside her. He traced a finger down her exposed neck, and she whimpered slightly.

Marcus could feel his nails digging into his palms as he fought with a control he never knew he possessed against his temper. Arella, in turn, smiled, her crimson lips turning her face into a picture of warm perfection, but he was not deceived. She was an incarnation of the devil encased in an angel's shell to tempt him. And, boy, did she tempt him.

"Why are you here, Marcus?" Yami asked, and for once there was nothing except an open curiosity in his voice. Marcus dragged his gaze away from Arella and turned to face the man of whom he now held in nothing but hatred and contempt.

"Why should you care?" he countered. "Afraid I've come to steal your girl?"

He fought to keep back a smile of satisfaction as Yami bit his lower lip with a temper he had never even told Arella about.

"If Arella wants to go to you, I'll ask her to step forward."

He looked at Arella and Marcus felt himself stiffen. All she had to do was take a few steps towards him and he would be able to cure her, restore her soul and then...

Then what? Watch her destroy herself with the guilt? He didn't know – yet.

But Arella didn't take one step forward; instead she remained at Yami's side. Capturing Yami's right hand with her own left one, she brought it to her lips before placing one finger tantalizingly slow in her mouth, pulled said finger out and released her grasp on it. The whole time she kept her eyes on Marcus – never breaking eye contact with him.

"I'm perfectly happy where I am," she replied while inching her body closer to Yami's and running her slim fingers through his tri-colored hair.

Marcus felt his mind go nuts. How could she do this to him? How could she stand there with her body, which was enough to tempt even a saint, and show her affection to another so unashamedly in front of him? Why was she doing this when she had once sworn she would love him until the end of her days, and that a part of her would always love him?

But, in reality, Marcus knew that it was the end of her days. The Arella he had once known was gone, and although this woman walked, talked and remembered her life, it was not her.

"I see you have something of mine," Arella commented, her eyes suddenly locking on the pendant which hung suspended around Marcus's neck. He reached a hand up to cover it protectively.

"Keep it, lover. It is for you, after all, a memory of me," she said before she paused for a few seconds and then blew him a kiss.

Marcus stepped forward, but then suddenly slumped over in shock and fell to the floor. A few seconds later, he was dead; a small pool of blood flowed from his open mouth. Protruding from his back was some blood and the sharp point of... a wooden stake?

Arella's expression was now one of puzzlement, and Yami blinked, also confused. Then they looked up, and there, a determined look on his face, was Michael.

"I never liked him," said Michael, seeing Arella and Yami give him questioning glances. "He was such an idiot. Trying to get to Arella is one thing, but trying to take her away from Yami? I'll never forgive him, even if he asked me."

He looked at Yami. "I'm sorry, Yami. I secretly believed that you and Arella should be together, for all time – and I still do."

He turned to leave, but then stopped and went on. "Oh, and by the way, I also knew that he was jealous of your friend, Seto Kaiba."

Yami nodded. That was true; he and Kaiba had been friends ever since they were born vampires. After all, Kaiba, like Yami, preferred feeding on criminals, such as rapists, child abusers and the like.

"Kaiba, after all, is handsome and gets all the ladies. He told me so himself one night," Michael went on.

Michael sat at the table, a glass of red wine in front of him. He picked up the glass, and lifted it to his lips, savoring the excellent taste. Kaiba has great taste in wine, he thought, just as he does in his prey.

And speak of the Devil...

Conversation suddenly ceased in the bar as a tall man – 6'1" to be exact – casually stepped over the threshold and across the floor. Women of all ages and assortments gasped as their eyes fell on his dashing face. Although his eyes were cobalt and looked to be full of ice, he looked absolutely charming. Even their boyfriends suddenly winced as they felt the sharp bite of the fangs of the snake of jealousy. Kaiba smirked upon remembering that phrase. He loved making the other boys and men jealous.

They began whispering to each other, wishing they had the clothes he wore.

"Why didn't we dress like him? We look like idiots."

"I think he looks like a supermodel. No wonder our girlfriends fall so easily for those eyes of his."

He wore black slacks and a long sleeved black shirt without buttons. It had a bit of a turtleneck to it as well. The belt had a beveled engraving of KC – KaibaCorp, to be exact.

The main piece was a large flowing purple colored trenchcoat with pronounced shoulders, wide arms, and a long flowing bottom, along with a pair of steel cuffs about the forearms. Also included were very high black boots with a slightly raised heel in the back.

Kaiba stared at his surroundings with keen interest, smirking a bit as he glided through the bar in a casual and stimulating sashay that effortlessly won him practically the entire club's complete and undivided attention.

Along with his clothes, his body was like a slinking vessel of exposed white flesh, creamy and smooth to die for. He was the epitome of everything that was male and powerful, graced with handsomeness and an aura that called for everyone's awareness and respect... almost like a king to that extent. He gleamed with the supremacy and strength of undulated sexuality... as well as carnal deadliness.

His glowing cobalt eyes examined the world around him as the music of the club – which happened to be Turn the Page by Metallica – pounded in his ears and flowed through his body like the blood through his veins. His smirk widened when a group of young college males stared at him. He offered them a glimpse of perfect white teeth and a pair of sharp incisors, which were small and innocent most of the time, but deadly and dangerous when elongated.

The smell of sweat and blood lingered in the air as he swept his tongue across his lip, tasting the sweet flavor of his surroundings. It called out to him, beckoning him to intensify the luscious aroma with their deaths.

However, he pushed that feeling aside and sashayed over to where Michael sat. He noticed, smirking still, that Michael didn't look so good – more like a little pale.

After pulling out a chair and twiddling it around effortlessly with his talented fingers, Kaiba sat down in it across the table from Michael. He sat his elbows on the desk and rested his chin casually on his now interlaced fingers.

"So, Michael," he said, careful to keep his tone icy, "what is it you wanted to tell me about?"

Michael tried to suppress a shudder when he noticed the look of the predator that Kaiba had in his eyes as he looked into Michael's face. Kaiba's voice also had a tint of the predator and the hunter in it.

"Well," he started, "it's about Arella's ex-boyfriend, Marcus."

Kaiba noticed that Michael spat out the name like it was a piece of bad-tasting fruit, and a curious look entered his sapphire orbs. "Oh, really?" he asked.

Michael nodded. "She broke up with him after she caught him in one of the bedrooms at a party with another girl. She told me that she would never find love in anyone else – ever again. But now she has found love again... and in Yami, no doubt."

Kaiba then smiled. "How sweet," he said. "My best friend has found a mate."

Michael nodded. "Uh, Kaiba-"

"No need to say it. I am handsome and I get all the ladies – especially the ones who are, shall we say, already taken," said Kaiba.

Michael was in shock. Was Kaiba psychic or something?

"Wow," said Arella as she turned to Yami. "Kaiba's your friend?" At a nod from Yami, she said, smiling, "I think it's neat."

"I think so too," Michael nodded. "Now I must go. You two have a wonderful life together now."

As Yami had lifted the freezing spell while Michael was telling his story, Michael then left.

Arella and Yami smiled at each other.

Then an hour later, Kaiba walked in the door. His blue eyes lit up when he saw Yami.

"Yami, my friend," he said, smiling.

He and Yami hugged for a moment. When they broke apart, Yami motioned to Arella.

"Kaiba, this is Arella Van Helsing, now Arella Tepesh. She's my mate," he said.

"Hello, Kaiba," said Arella, suddenly feeling a bit shy.

Kaiba took her hand and placed a kiss on the back of it ardently and respectfully. "I am proud," he said, "that Yami has found a mate in you."

Arella noticed he looked a little sad as well as a little wistful.

"Don't worry, Kaiba. You'll find a mate soon," she said comfortingly. "I am hopeful that you will. Just give it time."

Yami was proud of his lovely wife. She was so nice when it came to comforting someone – especially his best friend.

Arella stroked Kaiba's cheek in a comforting manner. "Just wait for the right time with the right person. You'll find someone," she said, smiling. "I just know it."

Kaiba thought over her words, and decided that she was right, after all. Even a vampire needs someone to love, and I am no different. But who's going to be my mate, help with work and such?

Kaiba now knew what he needed to do. The only problem was going out there and finding or waiting for the right mate.

Wait a minute, he thought. There is someone out there for me.

Immediately he knew who his mate was. And he knew what he had to do.